Lost Item from our Youth: The mixed tape

I was thinking about this the other day. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I love to communicate through song. I'm really big on playing songs with lyrics that are able to convey my feelings sometimes better than I can.

This came about because I am famous for putting lyrics on my Facebook page. My cousin saw a set of lyrics and said to me, "Now, if I could only get my boyfriend to read those. They are dead on what I'm feeling."

It brought me back to my youth and the coveted item of teeny-bopper girls (ok, and teenage girls) everywhere - the mixed tape. The one thing every boy could afford that, if done right, was guarenteed to make even the frostiest of ice queens melt into a puddle. Girls that scored this holy grail of youth ooohed and ahhhed over it with their girlfriends, as they all listened to the song choices that were made.

Then they all dissected the lyrics - what could they mean? Did he mean it this way or that? Why did he put THAT song on there?

As we got older, we gathered courage, and were able to SPEAK to the opposite sex in ways that transgressed the "You've got cooties." variety of speech we'd gotten used to over the years. It was also a relief to be able to speak face to face as opposed to using the (never worked right anyway) game of telephone. But, when it came to breaking the ice, the mixed tape still held a spot in the repitoire of nervous teenage boys.

Now, though married and somewhat older, I would love to be able to give someone a mixed CD, have them listen to the lyrics, and totally understand how I feel about them. (In marriage you're expected to TALK about it - blech - cuz sometimes ordinary words just don't do it).

So I started thinking and fantasizing. If I was younger (still in this time period) and single, what songs would I put on the mixed CD I would give to my "intended". Since I have almost 3000 songs on my iPod, I figure if it's not on there, it wouldn't be on my CD anyway.

So here we go - let's say 15 tracks, and not necessarily in order. (I'm linking to the lyrics cuz not everyone will know the songs).

Iris - GooGoo Dolls
Lips of An Angel - Hinder
Another - Glen Burtnick (had to link to an earlier post for these lyrics as I can't find them on the web)
I'm Ready - Bryan Adams
Everything - Lifehouse
In Too Deep - Phil Collins
Hold Onto the Nights - Richard Marx
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
For Just One Moment - John Tesh (duet with I can't remember who )
Bring Me to Life - Evanesence
Together - Styx
When There's Time for Love - Lawrence Gowan
Blue Monday - Fluke
They Don't Know - Tracy Ullman
Closer - Nine Inch Nails


So who's on your list?


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today marks the 30th Anniversary of the release of one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time - THE GRAND ILLUSION.

Here's hoping this works. Long live STYX - in every form, with every member, for every album and every song.



I'm off for the rest of the weekend. Will be back on Monday. Try to behave yourselves, ok? :P


Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Styxfest 2007 Report

Ok, so I'm back from the most HEAVENLY weekend ever. Styxfest 2007 took place at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario. It's about an hour from my house, but light years away from anything I've ever experienced before. (Forgive me for jumping between tenses LOL) Lots of great links to click here (couldn't figure out how to embed the youtube clips)

The festival started on Thursday, but due to work, I wasn't able to make it up there until Friday. After driving to the time share that I was sharing with a Styx fan from Arizona, I got changed and met up with all the gang at the Casino, where I had just missed a talk by the bands manager Charlie Brusco, from Alliance Atlantis. I was incredibly disappointed as my fellow Styx Chyx filled me in that it was quite informative. But I was shown into the ballroom, where I enjoyed some refreshments and then watched a Styx cover band give us their version of Kilroy Was Here. The name of the band is What Not To Do To Your Roboto. First off, if you are a fan of early Styx music, they don't cover anything beyond 1990. Secondly - ANY Styx cover band that is comprised of three chicks and one guy gets my vote. The band members were incredible. There was Roz on the drums - she's a little spitfire with WAAAAAYYYY too much energy, Suki on bass - and she did Chuck proud let me tell you, Anjy on lead guitar and vocals, and Scott doing, well, everything else. :D They really know their stuff. Check out their youtube video here.

(Above: Roomies!)

So after the performance, Sara and I decided that we were going to drop one of the cars back at the time share, and get ready for the show. While we're there, I put the bottle of strawberry zinfandel in the freezer (yes, I know it's not exactly Dom, but it was supposed to be cool and refreshing). Off we go, back to the casino in Sara's rental, and walk through the hotel on our way to the entertainment complex. Bonehead me realizes that I've left my ticket back at the timeshare. While there is time to go back and get it, I decide to see if anyone's got a spare. Sure enough, JennRN has a spare, and allows me to use it. Once inside, we rush to the front of the stage - cuz every die hard knows you can't enjoy a Styx show from your seats. So we stood at the front of the stage for an hour, at which time security comes by to ask about our tickets (but not mine - I have an "in" - sort of. My company does the outside security for the venue and I know the guy running it). The best part? A check of the show sheet tells me that the band has instructed security NOT to worry about cameras, and not to interfere with them. WOOOOOOOOOO!

Then, the lights go down - and it's time! They had a fantastic set list, playing some songs that we hadn't heard in years including Midnight Ride with JY on vocals, which had Helen almost passing out in front. She was able to get it on her camera though. They changed it from the night before, but for Friday the set list was:

Blue Collar Man
Grand Illusion
Lorelei
One With Everything
I Am The Walrus
Too Much Time
Midnight Ride
Suite Madam Blue
Crystal Ball
A Criminal Mind
Fooling Yourself *cue the entrance of one Mr. Chuck Panozzo original bassist and founding member*
Miss America
Come Sail Away to end the set, as always

And for the encore, we were treated to Everything All the Time, and of course, what would a Styx show be without closing with Renegade.

Afterwards, we head to the Firestarter Lounge where we take up residence in whatever space we can find. We had members sitting on the floor, on eachothers laps, at the bar....you get the idea. It's the popular spot in the hotel to go for drinks after a show. And it seemed like everyone in there had been at the show. The night is made even better by Mario, who is joining us from L.A. The big man was the life of the party!! After deciding on drinks and shooting the shit for an hour, who walks in to the place but nu-bassist Ricky Phillips (ok, he's not THAT new, but he's still no Glen).

After gathering up enough courage, I find him without adoring fans everywhere, by the band's photographer Jason (who is giving our resident Southern belle Karen a hand massage). I order up three shots of tequila for myself, Jason, and Ricky. Well, the Nancy-boys needed to use the lemon so I lost a little bit of respect for them. *grin* After which, I told Ricky that if he was going to toss me a pick tomorrow night, to aim for the cleveage (he had tried to kick me one, but the bohemith bitch in front of me snagged it). He got a chuckle out of that.

Sara came over and was exhausted, so around two, we headed back to the time share, where I smoked a joint and had another drink. The time share was gorgeous. My only complaint was the bed was major soft. But little did we know when we got back that disaster would strike. The zinfandel left in the freezer had frozen and exploded!! It was a mess! I decided to leave it for Sunday morning, and headed to bed.

The next day, Sara woke me up and we got ready to head to brunch at the casino. After a scrumptious meal, we took a look at the live auction items. There was clothing donated by the band, jackets designed by one of the girls (autographed of course), and all sorts of wonderful things. I bid as high as I could on a few things, but was outbid at the last second. There was also a silent auction, with old photographs of the band, a few autographed items, and bears designed by the same girl who did the jackets. The bears represented each band member, and were completely adorable. She also did a boy bear and a girl bear. Each band member autographed "their" bear, and all of them autographed the boy and girl bear. I was bidding for the Ricky bear, but wound up winning the boy bear. He is so adorable!! See??

Anyway, before we could wind up the live auction with the last three BIG ticket items, we had a special guest. Chuck Panozzo, aforementioned original bassist and founding member, has also written a book: The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies and My Life with Styx. He was scheduled to give a reading, but decided to improv, pointing out parts of the book he felt we should pay attention to. He was very funny, and very real. Chuck was diagnosed as HIV positive back in 1990. The book tells of his struggles, both as a boy and as a closeted musician in an industry that was quick to condem before understand. He is one of the nicest and most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. If you want a good read, whether you're a fan or not, this book is IT.

After we spend a wonderful two whole hours with the man, the last three items go up for bid. The one that was eagerly anticipated was an autographed wrist cuff from Lawrence Gowan. The rumor was that bidding would be as high as $1000 - WAY out of my price limit, but I did what I could to drive the bidding up. There were two very serious bidders on this. Lyn, and Ken. Ken is the husband of one of the organizers of Styxfest, and an active member of the Styx community. Not only is Dayle all that to us, but she is also an accomplished adult-oriented author. Check out their blogspot here. Her new book A Little Night Music, is due out soon, and she had advanced copies for all the members of the band. The reason? The band was the inspiration behind the book, and Lawrence was the inspiration behind the (very sexy or so I'm told) main character. The wrist cuff being bid on was featured in Chapter 13 of the book (well, at least we thought it was that one). So, as Dayle wanted it, Ken wanted to get it for her.

The bidding went back and forth between Ken & Lyn, with Dayle in tears as the price kept climbing. All of us in the room were just sitting there, marvelling at the love this man felt for his wife. When the auctioneer (Helen doing a phenomenal job) called SOLD, the final selling price was $11,000!! With her mascara running, Ken put the cuff on his tearful bride to thunderous applause from the rest of us (who were also blotting our mascara). We're all asking if we can clone him. With the festivities finally done, they set up a CHOCOLATE BUFFET for our final snack of the festival. It was YUMMY.

(Above: Ken putting the cuff on Dayle, Ken wearing a tie from Larry (who thought that after spending $11,000 he should have something), and Dayle wearing the wrist cuff - with me!)

In total, the weekend brought in over $17,000 for charity!! (For more info on what charities were involved see Styxfest.)

Sara and I decided, after we paid for our auction items (she won a heck of a lot more than I did, but my disposable income was not what I would have liked it to be), we headed back to the time share and got ready for the nights show. For dinner, we stopped at a chip truck and enjoyed the wonderful weather.

Back at the Casino, once more, we ran into the theatre, and claimed our spots right at the stage. Having been down on Tommy's side the night before (stage right to those who don't know better), I aimed for the centre of the stage. That's where most of the action happens. And action packed it was!!

With a slightly different set list, we were rocking the house out!! Ricky did what I asked, aimed for the cleveage, and apparently he winked at me afterwards, but I was too busy making sure I CAUGHT the damn thing. But it's ok, he winked at me several more times during the night, so I was happy.

After the show, we were informed that the band had a 5am lobby call and would not be going out that night - which meant no appearance of Ricky at the bar *sniff sniff*. So we all head over to the Day's Inn across the street, where the organizers have arranged a bit of an after party. But fatigue gets the better of us, and we head back earlier than anticipated. As I struggle to stay awake to keep Sara company (she had to leave at four a.m. to get to Toronto to hit the airport), she showed me a DVD of a show called Little Britain. If you have NEVER seen it, I highly recommend it. It's incredibly stoopid sketch, but you'll laugh your onion off!!

So I say goodbye to Sara, and head to bed. However, she calls me at 7 AM to tell me that the band is at the airport too!! She lucked out. :D The next day, sadly, it's all over and back to reality. Everyone has headed off to their separate destinations. After taking care of the exploded bottle, and tidying up the time share, I head home too.

I can't wait for next year!!!!

STYX RAWKS!! Everybody say HEAUX!!

Stay sane inside insanity ~ and never forget your towel.

Bored bored bored

Ok, so I'm sitting here at work, on a Friday BORED out of my frickin' mind (I hear Dr. Evil in my head when I say that). My boss is more than well aware that there is SFA for me to do today, so he is in a forgiving mood while I sit here and aimlessly surf the net.

Hotmail is having many many issues today, so I can't check on my ten email accounts. I've checked out everything I need to, and I know I should be writing my wrestling column, but I can't be bothered right now. So I figured I'd get a blog entry in, considering I've been seriously neglecting it lately.

So hats off to the hoochies and the hotty who had a blast in B'ham last weekend. As I've said many times, I wish I could have been there with you. But there is hope that Taylor might make his way up here to the Great White North, and if he does make Toronto a stop on the tour, I expect to see a bunch of you here!

Yesterday was my grandfathers 86th birthday, and the poor man was rushed to the hospital because they think he's got a viral pneumonia. At his age, that could be lethal. So, I'm actually kind of glad that there's nothing for me to do today, cuz I can't properly concentrate. And I have to work a hockey game tonight. I worked the last one on Wednesday night, and I got so pissed at those guys.

HOW, tell me please, how do you end the first period with a 3-1 lead, and THEN lose the game 7-4???????? How the hell does this happen? The Marlies aren't the best in the AHL, but they're definately not the worst. They'd better win tonight, or the coach is going to have an aneurism.

So Sanjaya is still alive on American Idol. HOW? WHY? The kid is cute, and can sing, I'll give him that. But there's no power behind it. It always sounds like he's whispering the songs. The show said that they'll never put someone like Taylor through again - and speculation is because that we, as the Soul Patrol, scared the ever loving shit out of the producers. The voting for him was so phenomenal that they couldn't contain it. You can so tell that they didn't want Taylor to win it, because they are pimping out Chris Daughtry (who sounds like a bad Pearl Jam imitation no matter HOW good he looks), and Katherine McPhee (no comment on her). It really doesn't matter though. Those two are going to be a flash in the pan (mind you- five years from now or so). Taylor, however, will have one of those careers like Tony Bennett. Classy, long lasting, and full of talent.

So what's on your iPod? Or MP3 or even your Windows media player? My friends go through my iPod and they are SO confused about what type of music I like. I love it all (ok, most). I refuse to be pigeonholed into a specific type. Example - the next twenty songs on my iPod (it's on random right now):

Box Set - Barenaked Ladies
Take Me Home - Phil Collins
By 7:30 - Vonda Shepard
Woman's Point of View - Glen Burtnick
Desert Moon - Dennis DeYoung
A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
A Little More Love - Olivia Newton John
Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley
Gonna Move - Taylor Hicks
Not enough - Our Lady Peace
Now & Forever - Carole King
Fallen Angel - Styx
Per Te - Josh Groban
Talk Dirty to Me - Poison
Two of Hearts - Stacey Q
Lost Brotherhood - Gowan
One Blue Day - The Wilkinsons
If This is the Last Kiss - Meatloaf
No Good Deed - Wicked Soundtrack (Broadway)
Sugar Shack - can't remember who sings it
Lips of An Angel - Hinder

So see what I mean? It often confuses my co-workers as I can be playing air guitar, rocking out to Bon Jovi one second, and doing jazz hands for a broadway tune the next. I love having 1821 songs and not knowing what's coming next. It's great. Especially when I'm practising for karaoke .

Ok gang, this has been a slice, but in six minutes, I officially clock out for the day. I'll update this weekend at some point - hopefully. Please keep my grandfather in your thoughts, and I'll catch ya later.


Stay sane inside insanity - and never forget your towel.

Thursday Thirteen - This weeks theme - MUSIC

This week I've decided to choose 13 songs that are near & dear to my heart. Not necessarily the nearest and dearest, cuz I love so much music!! When I decided to do this, I just jotted down the first thirteen songs that came to my mind.

Thirteen Things about Angell 13. Angel - Aerosmith Ok, cuz this one is a surprise. My obsession with this song is one of the reasons my nickname is what it is. Steven Tyler is brilliant! 12. Jump - Van Halen This song brings me back to when I was 17 and had to borrow my cousin's ID to get to the dance floor at a popular restaurant we all used to go to. I used to tear up the dance floor with a friend of mine, and we would clear the floor for this one. Still makes me want to hit the floor every time I hear it. 11. Lorilei - Styx I was going through a severe depression after the loss of Ruth, and really didn't want to go to this concert (well, those who know me know that I would have to be in a SERIOUS funk to not want to go to a Styx show). My friend Cathie talked me into it, and I'm glad I went. During this song, the bassist (at the time) Glen Burtnick, sang this one right to me, and even threw me a pic - which got stolen with my wallet cuz I kept it with me every day to remind me that I still have a lot of life left to live. 10. Roar - Glen Burtnick Yes, the same man who gave me that life saving guitar pick. The lyrics on this remind me of what music is all about. They are beautiful, and simple, and his vocals are incredibly pure. From this song comes the one line I use to remind me what life is all about: And God made man to sing. Yes, SHE certainly did. 9. The Great Escape - Nelson Yes, the guys with the long blonde hair from the 90's (they got haircuts). Yes, Ricky Nelson's twin boys. And yes, the two nicest men I've ever had the pleasure of interacting with. This one particular song is a favourite of mine because of the imagery they use. It is poetry at its' best. I highly recommend bouncing over to their website (linked at the bottom of this post), and checking out their music. Not only did they inherit their dad's good looks, but they inherited their wonderful vocals from him. 8. Bring Me To Life - Evanessence One word about this song: WOW. It really hit home for me. I was in a bit of a funk when I discovered these guys, and it made me think. A friend of mine pulled me out of the mire and threw me into the fire. I started really living again after I heard this tune, and it will forever remain in my heart (and my iPod - should I ever get one). 7. One Particular Harbour - Jimmy Buffet If you've never listened to JB (as he's referred to in my house), you are missing out on some of the greatest lyrics (and drinking music) ever created. He holds nothing back. Multiple syllable words are out the window with him. He keeps it simple, to the point, and on this one, makes me constantly wish I was out on a boat somewhere just chilling with my margaritas. Oh yes, one warning, DON'T listen to JB with anyone who's in AA. :D You WILL be inspired to drink - in a good way. 6. Out Here On My Own - Irene Cara (Fame soundtrack) This soulful tune could have been the soundtrack to my confusing adolescence - wait a second - it WAS! I've listened to this in every mood possible; I've performed it at countless auditions and karaoke nights; I've fallen asleep crying with it running through my head. For anyone who's lost track of their goals, or themselves, it's a great reminder of who you are. 5. Hell of A Day - Taylor Hicks You knew he had to be on here somewhere. This is the FIRST song of his that I really connected with - it doesn't mean I love it best. Beautifully written and honestly sung, you can feel his passion for the music right through the CD. If you haven't heard it yet (and judging by the people who read this, I'm 99.9% positive you HAVE), I would run over to his site and listen to it. You'll be hooked. 4. Babe - Styx The first Styx song I ever heard, and the one that "started this whole train rolling" (a DDY quote). It began my twenty five year love affair with Styx. I love the synth and the imagery that he's created. If you're a sap - this one is DEFINATELY for you. 3. Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles Ok, so the first version of this song I heard was the Mini-Pops version. But a great dance tune all the same. It brings me back to childhood, and it never fails to start my feet moving, and I don't care where I am - I will dance. 2. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen The Boss has NEVER looked sexier than in this video (trust me that image stays with you). And the inflections in his voice - WOW. If I keep typing, I'm gonna drool all over the keyboard. and....my number one.....(again, not necessarily - just for today) 1. Tiny Dancer - Elton John I loved this song when I first heard it, but since I saw the movie ALMOST FAMOUS, I COMPLETELY TOTALLY LOVE IT. Every time I hear it, it reminds me of the movie, and Kate Hudson's character Penny Lane. It also reminds me that had I been a little younger, and a LOT more single, I would have been a Band Aid.

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Stay sane inside insanity - and never forget your towel.